If you’ve dabbled with the idea that Cristiano Ronaldo is not of this world, then take this into consideration. During Manchester United’s match against Middlesbrough last Sunday, a fan named Fred Harrison was minding his own biz in the stands until a scorching volley was directed his way, inevitably breaking his wrist after he diverted the shot from ironing out his face. He had come into direct contact with a Cristiano strike…and he lost.

Fred, a grandad of six from Hartlepool, was at the game with his 40-year-old son Kevin, who joked as soon as they sat down: “We’re in the line of fire here, dad!” Said Fred: “I didn’t think he’d proved right so quickly.

It was only the fifth minute. As soon as it left Ronaldo’s foot I could see where it was going - at me!

“It was a great save - I don’t think our keeper Mark Schwarzer could have matched it,” he joked.

Kudos for not being a wuss, Fred. We managed to catch a foul ball last year off a Jason Repko line-drive and bitched about our handing hurting for a week. Fred, on the other hand (ha), waited a few days to have a doctor check his injury and found C-Ron had mashed his hand into pieces.

Fred said that he didn’t even think about the pain because it was such a good match. And despite his wife Edith’s concern, he didn’t have his injury checked until Tuesday.

Doctors at the University Hospital of Hartlepool then confirmed his wrist was broken. Fred said: “They all found it quite amusing and I guess it isn’t something that happens every day.

“I hold no grudges against Ronaldo. He is an amazing player, probably the best in the last decade. If I was going to get hit by anyone’s shot I am glad it was Ronaldo’s and not a player I don’t like.”

We agree. A Wayne Rooney, or Ryan Giggs strike wouldn’t of been as memorable. And a Carlos Tevez strike would have probably been slimy with drool. But at least Fred didn’t turn out like this guy.

Cristiano Ronaldo lands fan in hospital after breaking wrist with shot [Sunday Mirror]
Image [Sunday Mirror]